Trey and Sonya couldn't be more different--yet their divergent lives are about to converge, with a bang. As Sonya evades the biker gang she was once involved with, she befriends Trey, a scientist, and helps him evade the Chromes, the most successful terrorist organization in the world. Trey and Sonya have more than their own lives to consider; the free world will change for the worse if the Chromes gain Trey's priceless knowledge. In the thriller Chrome Mountain, Ben Schneider explores one possible future our real world could be racing toward. Readers will find this story, driven by the female protagonist, a page-turner but without the darker tactics of similar sci-fi thrillers. The characters of Chrome Mountain tell their stories with clean humor, no profanity, a lot of advice from God, and action--lots and lots of action.
Ben Schneider was born in Oklahoma. In 2003, he earned a B.A. in Graphic Design at Oklahoma University, married his fiancée, and joined the Air Force. Ben and his wife, Suzy, have been stationed in Italy, Okinawa, and Alaska. Aside from writing fiction, Ben’s other interests include drawing his Airman Artless comic strips. Chrome Mountain is his debut novel.
CHROME MOUNTAIN is an action-packed thriller that will keep you up late turning pages. It did me. It is also a love story, and one which renews one’s faith in the ability of good to triumph over evil.
It is said that knowledge is power, and it can also be said, after reading this novel, that having such knowledge can make you the object of affection of those who you least want affection from. Trey and Sonya will take you on a hair-raising ride as they evade the terrorists of CHROME and they’ll give you some laughs along the way. Character development in this novel is excellent. The author, Ben Schneider, is a master of action and motion. I kept asking myself, ‘What next?’ It’s a great read, especially for those who like thrillers with a romantic element and a twist of faith.
I really wanted to love this book but too many things were wrong with this book for me to enjoy reading it. Suffice to say, my reading experience was gruelling and I had to make myself get to the end though I badly wanted to put the book down.
This book had the potential to be really good but I must say that it really fell flat for me. Firstly, I found the writing slightly too casual for the serious matters that were being addressed. One instance was when Sonya recounted the moment she considered suicide. The entire paragraph was written with such a blasé attitude that I nearly stopped reading the book entirely. What I saw was an opportunity to address, even marginally, the issues regarding mental health in our society today. Instead this moment was used to show the beginning of her relationship with Levi North.
It seemed to me as though her suicidal thoughts vanished without a trace as soon as she met him. Likewise, I was excited to see some commentary on the issue of rape when the author brought up Sonya’s past relationship with Levi. My excitement, it turns out, was for nothing, because this issue was glossed over and we never heard about it again until the end of the book.
I also didn’t like the large head count. It felt as though there were too many characters, some of which had screen time when they shouldn’t have, and it made the entire narrative feel crowded to me. A deeper exploration of the protagonists’ personalities would have been preferable and their growth would have seemed more believable at the end of the book.
Another thing I didn’t like was the excessive use of monologues. Especially with Terry’s character, they seemed to be more of whining than anything else. Monologues are meant to be used sparingly in books and when used they should add value to the reader’s view or understanding of the character’s thoughts and emotions. Again, they were nothing more than internal whining and it was particularly grating to have a situation described as dangerous, for example, then have a character ramble on about the danger of said situation.
I found the excessive use of sound words such as “RAT-A-TAT-TAT” or “KA-BOOM”, especially their constant capitalisation, highly distracting. It took away from the book and steered focus away from the narrative and onto the words instead.
It also took quite a while for Sonya and Terry to have their first meeting considering this was something that was teased to the reader in the synopsis and clearly pivotal in getting the story going. Their meeting was anti-climatic to say the least and the dialogue could have been a bit more original.
1.5/4 stars because it was a pain for me to get through and I had to struggle to maintain my interest in it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Two people find themselves forced to fight together for survival in author Ben Schneider’s Chrome Mountain. Here is the synopsis.
The Synopsis
Trey and Sonya couldn't be more different--yet their divergent lives are about to converge, with a bang. As Sonya evades the biker gang she was once involved with, she befriends Trey, a scientist, and helps him evade the Chromes, the most successful terrorist organization in the world. Trey and Sonya have more than their own lives to consider; the free world will change for the worse if the Chromes gain Trey's priceless knowledge.
In the thriller Chrome Mountain, Ben Schneider explores one possible future our real world could be racing toward. Readers will find this story, driven by the female protagonist, a page-turner but without the darker tactics of similar sci-fi thrillers. The characters of Chrome Mountain tell their stories with clean humor, no profanity, a lot of advice from God, and action--lots and lots of action.
The Review
This science-fiction thriller is unlike any other. Filled with incredible character development and military style action, the story of two people from very different worlds coming together inadvertently in a fight against powerful forces made for an engaging read. An incredible blend and fusion of biker gangs, terrorist organizations, futuristic tech and relatable protagonists made this a truly fun read to enjoy.
Now one thing I will say that I cannot comment on fully is the inclusion of some religious storylines. I myself being not religious, I cannot comment on the strength or impact to religion this story has. I can say for anyone who enjoys characters with deep ties to religion, there are some truly important and strong stories intertwined with some of these characters that involve that subject. It examines belief and faith in a unique way as it mixes into this futuristic sci-fi world the author has created.
The Verdict
Overall this was a fun read. Filled with action and suspense, this original and incredibly creative tale is a wonderful fusion of interweaving character arcs, high-octane drama and a edge of your seat thriller you won’t want to miss. Be sure to grab your copy of Chrome Mountain by Ben Schneider today.
Chrome Mountain sets the bar high when it comes to action. Motorcycle chases, angry gang members, explosions, helicopter takedowns, it has it all! Sonya is on the run from her old bike gang, and Trey is a tech genius who's created cloaking technology. When a terrorist group gets wind of Trey's invention, they will try to pull him into their schemes in order to further their own agenda. But with tough as nails Sonya, who believes she is chosen by God to protect Trey, it will be a fight to the bitter end to see who comes out on top.
While the story was interesting, it had a lot of extra characters and information that wasn't needed. Filler to just up a word count is a big no in my opinion. There were also formatting errors towards the end of the novel that made it difficult to read.
Well written for a fast paced action drama, even though as most all literary action books are for me I would completely want to see this one on a TV screen more than read about it. But the action was written out well enough that I could follow pretty well.
I am totally not a fan of sci-fi reads. I think anyone who’s ever read a review from The Rebel Christian has probably seen me rant about science-fiction before but in this case I’m pretty happy that I took a chance and decided to offer this author a review.
Chrome Mountain is an action-packed thriller that will certainly please secular and Christian readers alike. As a Christian myself, I openly and proudly welcome religious fiction—but that doesn’t mean I read with “blind eyes”. If anything, I’m probably more critical of Christian and religious work than secular fiction. That being said, this book did not disappoint me.
I’ll admit, living in a society so heavily saturated with secular entertainment, it becomes difficult to imagine a thriller with tons of action, fast-paced fighting sequences, a solid, heart-pounding storyline, and great characters without vulgarity, profanity, or sex. One of the reasons I prefer reading fantasy over sci-fi or action is because you can have action and thrilling elements in a fantasy novel without all the “adult” themes, but in a thriller, things can become pretty corny pretty fast if you don’t know what you’re doing. Thankfully, I didn’t see any cheesiness in this book.
The story between Trey and Sonya was lovely; they had great chemistry and they fed off each other that helped progress the story as well as improve their own characterization. As individuals, their backstories were intriguing in such a way that it didn’t feel like exploring their past was a big waste of paper and time. One of the things I appreciated most about this book was that there was no time to waste here. Sometimes authors don’t realize that readers care a lot less for their characters and even parts of their story than they do. I don’t care what Sonya’s favorite color is or what Trey had for breakfast this morning. Unnecessary details can weigh down a story and deter readers, I was very pleased to see Chrome Mountain sticking to the point.
I mentioned religion earlier, I know that can be a turn-off for the less openminded reader, but for me it was a plus. Faith played a big role in this book and it helped enhance the story and provide insight to where a lot of the character reactions, emotions, and decisions came from. Sometimes its hard to incorporate faith into an action-thriller but Chrome Mountain does it right and for that, I give it an excellent rating and a recommendation that anyone reading this review should get a copy. Sci-fi and thriller readers will love this, anyone who likes well-paced action will certainly enjoy it and Christian readers might have just found their new favorite read with this book.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
*Disclaimer* I was financially compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and not influenced by the author and/or its affiliates in any way.
A suspenseful thriller, Chrome Mountain by Ben Schneider, takes place in a modern society with hints of science fiction. Trey Radisson, an inventor, is working on a recent project when he had a horrifying dream which led him to destroy the prototype before it falls into the wrong hand. Now with the invention destroyed, the Chrome which is the country's greatest threat is seeking for him for his knowledge to recreate the prototype. He is later joined by Sonya McCall after a chaotic mishap which led to him to be the most wanted person. Sonya McCall was running from her problems herself when she became the only witness to an incident and also becoming a wanted person, just not as much as Trey. Now the two will have to avoid the government and the Chrome for the knowledge that Trey hopes to keep forever and take it to the grave with him one day, hoping no one ever tries to recreate it.
From the first page, it already has the readers hooked to the story with a strong and admirable female lead. Even though there are two main characters, essentially Trey is the lead character. However, it started off with Sonya which made it slightly different since books normally start with the main character's point of view, excluding prologues. Ben Schneider created an interesting plot that keeps the reader wanting to continue with all the action and suspense that is happening and not having the readers feel overwhelmed. Despite it being listed in the science-fiction, adventure and action genre, there is a subtle hint of romance too which does not feel too rushed or too slowed. It was perfectly paced, and that caused the romance to not become the focus either.
They were from different circles but Sonya stopped during her journey to evade a biker gang to help scientist Trey to evade global terrorist organisation the Chrome when they tried to capture him for his knowledge. Out of that situation struck a friendship that saw them fight to stop the knowledge from falling into the determined terrorists' hands in order to ensure the world stayed safe. Can they keep on evading the Chrome, build their friendship into a relationship as well as keep Trey's knowledge safe?
I really enjoyed this story which was full of drama, intrigue, danger with many twists and turns too. It was refreshingly a clean story with no bad language nor any sex. It was nice to read about a build up to a friendship first and then a relationship that was built to last. I enjoyed the format of the story and although it was fiction I could also imagine it would be possible to happen for real in the future. An enjoyable read.
Trey Radisson, a genius scientist, has a brilliant future ahead of him until he invents a marvelous technology and destroys it out of fear of harming humanity. Sonya McCall has left the biker-gang-life behind, but they are not ready to let her go. Escaping separate enemies, they meet by chance and fight together for their survival.
Good characterization and fast narrative keep the reader turning pages. Sonya’s fearless attitude, Trey’s geek personality, and the chemistry they share combined with the light tone of the book makes it a fun read.
Schneider employs futuristic science technology in the plotting without a maze of technical mumbo jumbo and keeps the plot simple and uncomplicated. A dash of religion will make the Christian readers happy.
I am unsure what to say. I am very very anti religion so the mentions of GOD pissed me off but I finished this book anyways because the author asked me to read it and he didn’t realize at the time how much I truly despise religion and I thought it unfair to rate it poorly solely on that premise. Soooo yeah.... the story while not the most original was good enough to keep me from just putting it down. Read it if you want an easy read that’s full of adventure. Do not read it if you hate hearing about bornagains loving god. I will read his future books and I think i like action suspense and happy endings give this a shot.
Chrome Mountain by Ben Schneider is a thrilling novel full of suspense and action that will give the readers goose bumps and will leave their heads spinning. It is a whirlwind of action, romance and a bit of comedy. The starting is a bit slow, but once it gains speed, it launches full-force into the story. Ben Schneider has brought forward ideas that technically should not be possible but in this story, they are. It has multiple POV's that can be confusing and the action scenes have been described so vividly that it became disturbing at times. This book had everything from bike chasing to running from terrorists in a hotel to hijacking an aircraft in a way which brings excitement to the story.
Chrome Mountain discusses how, if knowledge can be used positively, it can be used adversely as well. It shows how one person’s innovation and creativity could put an entire country and the lives of millions at risk in the blink of an eye. It highlights how detrimental knowledge can be if it goes in the wrong hands and this is what Trey and Sonya along with an unlikely ally are fighting to avoid.
Trey is a scientist who developed a technology that Chrome Falcons, the terrorist organization, is after because of its power of rendering anything invisible. Sonya is running from a biker gang when she first meets Trey. They met with a literal bang and their first encounter was interesting and messy at best. I didn’t like Trey in the beginning. He wasn’t a very relatable character and the decisions that he made about leaving his co-workers in danger were questionable according to me. Also, the limited interactions between Trey and his family seemed slightly stilted. Sonya was a big highlight of this book. She was smart, intelligent and knew how to handle every situation appropriately whether it involved getting away from bikers or a terrorist organization. The changes in Trey’s attitude and personality after meeting Sonya was a redeeming point in his character. He became a lot more sensible and did his best to prevent his invention from getting into the wrong hands. The romantic aspect was slight but it was still sweet enough. There were a few comic elements throughout the book that could appeal to the readers.
Chrome Falcons is a terrorist organization that has always been undefeated and undetected (literally). There were instances when the members of this organization didn’t appear to be particularly terrifying, especially considering how easily Trey and Sonya escaped their clutches for the first time and the dialogues made by its members sometimes might make you question their wisdom instead of making you feel terrified of them. The biker gang that Sonya was running from also felt like a joke. It was weird how the leader of a biker gang was so dead set on finding Sonya and making her pay, that he was willing to risk being exposed to the law, especially when he was being hunted by the law. Also, the camaraderie between the entire biker gang was unnatural.
Overall, the book was okay enough, even though it was slightly slow in the beginning. I would recommend this book to readers who like a flurry of action with a bit of humor and little bit of romance throughout the book. It was well edited and I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars for its creative story and action sequences.
Entering Ben Schneider's captivating world of Chrome Mountain is like buckling up for an exhilarating ride filled with surprising turns and heart-pounding action. Schneider expertly weaves together the lives of Trey Radisson and Sonya McCall, two very different people who find each other amid danger and redemption. The suspenseful chase sequences, compelling confrontations, and constant threat of terrorism keep you on edge.
Because of Schneider's excellent suspenseful writing, this novel is a real page-turner for those who want nonstop action. Sonya's journey from a troubled past to facing the Screamon Demons and Trey's nerdy genius, mixed with a dash of humor, create a dynamic duo you can't help but root for. The character development, particularly Sonya's growth, adds depth to the narrative, making the reader genuinely invested in their fates.
However, like any thrilling ride, there are a few bumps. The book introduces a faith-based theme, which, while intriguing, might feel rushed for some readers. It's like finding a surprising twist in the plot that, while interesting, could have been more delicately integrated. Nevertheless, the characters' conflicts and resolutions keep the story engaging, ensuring you're always hungry for the next chapter. Schneider's action scenes are undoubtedly the highlight of Chrome Mountain. Whether it's a high-speed chase or a face-off with terrorists, the vivid descriptions and well-crafted sequences make you feel like you're watching a blockbuster movie. The flaws in dialogue construction and occasional unnecessary comments about certain characters are noticeable but don't overshadow the overall excitement.
While the book might not be a flawless masterpiece, it undeniably delivers on its promise of a fast-paced, action-packed adventure. Packed with rich character development, adrenaline-fueled scenes, and a surprising thread of faith, *Chrome Mountain* takes readers on a thrilling journey through tech-driven chaos, family tensions, and the unyielding quest for redemption. Strap in tight—you’re in for a wild ride full of twists and turns. Since it is well-edited and has no typos or grammatical errors.
So good to great female protagonist joined by Trey The inventor!
Some books are good on rainy days or when you just want to stay in and some books are good whenever. That’s this book! There are so many good things I could say about this book they have Sonya (I can’t explain her she’s someone you have to meet) and then there is Trey(again… You have to meet him) and then they meet each other. Before all this though, Trey makes an invention that is deadly and after a dream showing him the inventions potential he destroys it. And Hass to go on the run when he finds out the chromous or after him. Sonia on the other handfrom her deadly ex-boyfriend and his gang members who are out to kill her because you don’t leave a gang member and steal from him on top of that, they both wind up in Colorado where something happens that makes trey even more wanted and after Sonia is the witness to it she joins him because she was running in the anyway right? I would say this is when the fun begins but the fun begins at page 1 I have yet to read a been Snyder book I didn’t like there are a few authors I can say I love all of their books, but I can comfortably say that about Ben Snyder. He has a way of sucking you in and have you believing things that are ridiculous could happen. You could have a heroin ride down the side of a mountain down steps and with any other author you would be like a normal person couldn’t do that, With Ben Snyder you say wow she is a bad Chick! Oh Em Gee, this book is so good I wish I knew the magic words to say to make you buy this book. Well I will say is I feel excited for you, because I know the greatness you will feel while reading this book. I know I did you know that feeling when you’re like wow this book is really good. Well chrome mountain gives you that feeling as though most of been Snyders books at least the three highbred and one of them only had 23 pages. Either way you should get this but who cares about my opinion read it for yourself you’ll see what I mean.
The characters have unique voices, and there’s plenty of action. The love story worked between the main characters. Although I'm usually a sucker for tragic endings, in this book the good triumphs over evil, and I have no complaints about that.
However, I didn't like the writing style for several reasons. This is totally a matter of taste and my observations won't stop you from enjoying Chrome Mountain. The author uses adjectives and adverbs, and in my opinion, when bountiful, they slow down the action.
I'll give you an example:
“With a shrill hiss, the wheel deflated, tossing her black mane with foul air. An empty shell plinked across the asphalt as acrid smoke escaped the muzzle, now trained between Brock’s eyes again. His brawny arms raised in surrender as onlookers in the SUVs froze. His soot-black vest hung open, and she briefly scanned the front and other side of his waist. No weapons.”
Although I love the variation which Ben Schneider uses in his writing, some parts of the book cluttered. I had to look "aquiline" from my English-Finnish dictionary. However, he paints a vivid, original picture.
Yes, becoming an author ruined reading for me.
Also, all caps for noises: “The WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP! of the invisible rotorcraft grew quieter with increasing distance. Soon, there were no sounds at all.”
Like with all literary effects, it works when you use it now and then.
Otherwise, the book was enjoyable and I'll be reading Ben Schneider's other books.
Chrome Mountain by Ben Schneider is an action-packed thriller featuring the bold and beautiful Sonya McCall and the super-smart Trey Radisson as the protagonists. Sonya is running away from the bikers’ gang that she had been part of and Trey has destroyed his brilliant invention to keep it from falling into the hands of unscrupulous people. A powerful terrorist organisation called Chrome Falcon wants Trey and his invention, without caring about the deaths caused by the pursuit. Sonya and Trey come together somehow to save America, and the world, from the clutches of Chrome Falcon. There is a lot of action and the lead characters have a detailed back story. The author has made an effort to leave no loose ends in the story and has succeeded in doing so. Though the story is quite engaging, the dialogues, both internal and external, are unrealistic. Almost every character in this novel tries to be funny, which is not funny at all. All members of the mighty terrorist outfit, Chrome Falcon, look like a bunch of incompetent maniacs with a really bad sense of humour. There are many unnecessary descriptions that do nothing but to increasing the number of pages. In spite of having a decent plot, the poor execution of Chrome Mountain makes me rate it 2.5 stars, graciously rounded off to 3.
Chrome Mountain is a "I've got you till the end, story'. I found both main characters, Trey and Sonya, both believable and facing the same struggles as so many do today. At least like many book characters do. The pace of the story is just right and the author has chosen a christian theme that speaks of his own character. If you read today's fantasy then you know nothing is past the realm of unbelievable. The story line stays true to the plot and both characters find ways to surprise us with their antics and action just as the bad guys do with their cruel and inhumane treatment of anyone who gets in their way. From the start, I wondered how the story would end and I wasn't disappointed. Now I only have to wait for the movie.
CW for rape, racism, and sexism. Author refers to Asian character’s eyes as “slanted.” The book also features a male character, with whom we are apparently intended to sympathize, publicly mocking his wife for her low libido as a result of a medication she is taking. I did not finish reading this book.
I tell you what Ben Schneider is an up and coming author. This book has so much, action, adventure, Christianity, and a beautiful love story. Very impressed, will look out for more from this author.
A girl, A boy, A terrorist organization. Trey, a scientist, and Sonya are your guides throughout the novel. The author does a good job of using descriptive language to illustrate the action scenes. Military action is not something that I normally read, but I found the plot interesting. There was a lot of military action here, enough religion that it was noticeable, humor and something akin to love between Trey and Sonya, who was no wallflower. She helps keep Trey safe from those who try to to "engage him", because of his invention. There were moments where my attention was lost because for me it was a little wordy at times and again that could just because I am not familiar with military-style action sequences and the religious aspect of the novel.
All in all, I think this was an interesting novel with good action, developed characters, and a solid plot.
I did not finish this book so will not give it a rating in case of bias.
I found the dialogue to be well crafted, but the descriptions far too lengthy. The pace felt off. It seemed like it varied drastically between intense action scenes and lengthy descriptions I just wanted to skim through.
Middle of the way through there seemed an excessive amount of collateral damage.